From Marfa to the Moon: A Weekend in West Texas

Ballroom Marfa: This where it all began. In 2003, Virginia Lebermann and I knew there was something special about the former dance hall (The Queen’s Ballroom, circa 1927) and decided to create a cultural center of art, music, and film in this remote desert community, where the minimalist artist Donald Judd lived and worked. We kicked off our benefit weekend with a cocktail reception at the Ballroom space.

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Ballroom Marfa: This where it all began. In 2003, Virginia Lebermann and I knew there was something special about the former dance hall (The Queen’s Ballroom, circa 1927) and decided to create a cultural center of art, music, and film in this remote desert community, where the minimalist artist Donald Judd lived and worked. We kicked off our benefit weekend with a cocktail reception at the Ballroom space.

Photo: Mary Lou Saxon

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In addition to year-round music and film programs at Ballroom Marfa, we put up two or three major exhibitions a year, featuring work from emerging and internationally recognized artists. This is the Ballroom Marfa courtyard, which currently features a bio-acoustic sculpture by Roberto Pugliese,A Voice in the Desert. The piece was created for our exhibition “Data Deluge,” curated by Rachel Gugelberger and Reynard Loki, and transforms Marfa’s current weather conditions—temperature, humidity, wind speed, barometric pressure­—into digital sounds within large steel frames.

Photo: Mary Lou Saxon

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On Saturday night, a caravan transported benefit guests to a dinner at the majestic Hip-O Ranch a few miles outside of town. We ate under the stars at an altitude of 4,685 feet.

Photo: Lesley Brown

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The tables were created by artists: moon plates and astronaut glasses by Matthew Day Jackson, galactic tablecloths by Rashid Johnson, ceramic cowrie shell table decor by Simone Leigh, and lighting elements by Leo Villareal. Artist and DJ Juan Capistran and Chris Avitabile performed a sound set, and guests found their seats while a desert deluge loomed on the horizon.

Photo: Lesley Brown

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In keeping with the weekend’s theme, we were enchanted by an alien-summoning performance by L.A.-based artist Kathryn Andrews, with composer Scott Benzel. It wound up bringing the rain but not the aliens—or did it? I couldn’t help but think of the text that Raymond Pettibon included on the print editions he created for our benefit: “They are become so common in the skies we hardly notice that they are there.”

Photo: Lesley Brown

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The next morning, we arrived at the home of Virginia Lebermann and John Wotowicz for “Houston, We Have a Problem,” an elegant brunch around the pool. These handmade matchbooks, by Jonathan Mergele and Sean Daly, were the perfect memento from the day. That night, we feted the end to a fantastic weekend with a concert by Brazilian indie-rock band Cansei de Ser Sexy.

Photo: Mary Lou Saxon

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During Memorial Day weekend in May, Ballroom Marfa, a contemporary arts and culture hub in the high desert of west Texas, hosted its 2012 benefit dinner and concert, A Trip to the Moon: A Weekend with Aliens and Astronauts. Three days of events celebrated the organization’s nine years of art, film, and music projects, with guests traveling from as far away as Hong Kong. Vogue.com asked Fairfax Dorn, cofounder and executive director of Ballroom Marfa, to share some of her favorite snapshots from the weekend and offer an insider’s opinion on where to eat, shop, and stay while in town.

For the best savory red-pepper margarita, steak frites, and chocolate soufflé, go to Cochineal.

For lunch, go to the one-and-only Food Shark. I also recommend Pizza Foundation, and Tacos del Norte (1501 W San Antonio St.; 432.729.4540) for nopales tacos.

For home-cooked pasta, go to Maiya’s and for chicken-fried steak, visit Jett’s Grill at Hotel Paisano.

For buying books and more, The Marfa Book Company is a beautifully considered shop where you can peruse their impressively stocked shelves, see art, hear music, and listen to readings by some of the world’s most renowned authors (many of them courtesy of the Lannan Foundation).

For shopping, I recommend Tienda M (108 S. Highland Avenue, 432.729.4440), where you’ll find Dosa apparel and handmade pottery, paper jewelry, and rugs from Mexico, along with local artisan accessories.